Swansea have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Borja Baston for a club record £15.5 million. The Spaniard has agreed a four-year deal with the club which will keep him at the Liberty Stadium until 2020.
Swansea have been in the market for a striker after the departure of Andre Ayew to West Ham and Borja was considered to be the perfect replacement.
The Spaniard made just 1 appearance for Atletico Madrid and spent most of his time out on loan to various Spanish outfits including Deportivo, Zaragoza, Murcia and most recently Eibar.
Baston has been a prolific scorer in his short career. He scored 22 goals in 39 appearances for Zaragoza and was an integral part of the team that made it to the promotion playoffs. He was also named in the team of the season. He was then loaned out to top-flight club Eibar where he produced similar numbers. After scoring against Barcelona, he was named Player of the Month in October. In 36 appearances for the club, Borja hit the back of the net 18 times.
Also read: Swansea signs a World Cup winning striker
Touted as one for the future, Borja has also represented Spain at the under 16,17 and 19 levels. He received the golden shoe in the FIFA under-17 World cup in 2009.
The man he will be replacing, Andre Ayew also had a pretty decent 2015/16 campaign in Wales where he managed 12 league goals. Ayew though had been on the lookout for a possible move away from the Liberty and managed to secure a move to Slaven Bilic’s West Ham.
Borja will take the number 10 shirt vacated by the Ghanaian.
He, along with recent acquisition Fernando Llorente are expected to form a formidable partnership up front for the Welsh football club. Borja becomes Swansea's fifth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Mark Birighitti, Leroy Fer, Mike van der Hoorn and Fernando Llorente
Swansea begin their Premier League campaign away at newly promoted side Burnley on Saturday.
